diff --git a/src/components/Badges/badge.utils.ts b/src/components/Badges/badge.utils.ts
index f02a7bfa61..6faa3e5932 100644
--- a/src/components/Badges/badge.utils.ts
+++ b/src/components/Badges/badge.utils.ts
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ export const BADGES: Record<string, BadgeMeta> = {
         description: 'They found the Arbiverse booth. We found them. Mutual onboarding achieved.',
     },
     // Rebranded from "Card Pioneer" to "Founding Pioneer". Backend still emits the
-    // CARD_PIONEER code (it also gates grandfathered card access + cashback), so we
+    // CARD_PIONEER code (it also gates grandfathered card access + rewards), so we
     // keep the code and only repoint the FE asset/copy/name. Existing holders now
     // render the Founding Pioneer badge. (Same pattern as SUPPORT_SURVIVOR below.)
     CARD_PIONEER: {
diff --git a/src/constants/analytics.consts.ts b/src/constants/analytics.consts.ts
index e7dba2d3cc..603139e928 100644
--- a/src/constants/analytics.consts.ts
+++ b/src/constants/analytics.consts.ts
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ export const ANALYTICS_EVENTS = {
     // ── Home ──
     BALANCE_VISIBILITY_TOGGLED: 'balance_visibility_toggled',
 
-    // ── Error / Churn ──
+    // ── Error ──
     BACKEND_ERROR_SHOWN: 'backend_error_shown',
     BACKEND_ERROR_RETRY: 'backend_error_retry',
     BACKEND_ERROR_LOGOUT: 'backend_error_logout',
@@ -183,9 +183,9 @@ export const ANALYTICS_EVENTS = {
     CARD_FLOW_EARLY_ACCESS_GRANTED: 'card_flow_early_access_granted',
     // Outer-gate fail: user landed on /card without /shhhhh early access pre-launch.
     CARD_FLOW_GATED: 'card_flow_gated',
-    // Home launch CTA (shown to everyone post-public-launch who has no active card).
-    // viewed = banner became visible; clicked = tapped through to /card;
-    // dismissed = tapped the X. Click and dismiss both hide it permanently.
+    // Home Carousel CTA for card launch (shown to everyone post-public-launch who
+    // has no active card). viewed = CTA became visible; clicked = tapped through
+    // to /card; dismissed = tapped the X. Click and dismiss both hide it permanently.
     CARD_LAUNCH_CTA_VIEWED: 'card_launch_cta_viewed',
     CARD_LAUNCH_CTA_CLICKED: 'card_launch_cta_clicked',
     CARD_LAUNCH_CTA_DISMISSED: 'card_launch_cta_dismissed',
diff --git a/src/hooks/useActivationStatus.ts b/src/hooks/useActivationStatus.ts
index 995b0b3d13..1eee1d1e09 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useActivationStatus.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useActivationStatus.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react'
 export type ActivationStep = 'verify' | 'deposit' | 'card' | 'outbound' | 'completed'
 
 interface ActivationStatus {
-    /** whether user has completed activation funnel (kyc + first outbound tx) */
+    /** whether user has activated (≥1 spend: card spend or QR spend on Mercado Pago/Pix) */
     isActivated: boolean
     /** timestamp of activation, null if not yet activated */
     activatedAt: string | null
@@ -31,14 +31,18 @@ const CARD_DISMISSED_STORAGE_KEY = 'peanut_card_activation_dismissed'
  * derives the user's activation status for gating rewards/referral UI.
  *
  * activation funnel: registered → verified → funded → card → activated
- * (activated = kyc approved + ≥1 outbound transaction with fees)
+ * (activated = ≥1 SPEND transaction: card spend or QR spend on Mercado Pago/Pix —
+ * other outbound tx kinds like send links, offramps and withdrawals no longer
+ * count; the BE computes `isActivated`/`activationMilestone` on /users/me and
+ * this hook just consumes them, so it inherits the definition automatically)
  *
  * The `card` step only appears when the user is eligible for a Rain card
  * (hasCardAccess) but doesn't have an active one yet, and hasn't dismissed
- * it via "Maybe later". Otherwise the funnel skips straight to outbound.
+ * it via "Maybe later". Otherwise the funnel skips straight to the spend step
+ * (`outbound` — step id kept for continuity, it now means "make your first spend").
  *
- * before backend ships isActivated, falls back to treating all users as activated
- * so no UI breaks during the transition.
+ * if the BE omits isActivated (bug/outage), falls back to false so gated UI
+ * (rewards/referral) stays hidden rather than leaking.
  */
 export function useActivationStatus(): ActivationStatus {
     const { user } = useAuth()